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1219448

registered interest
date	30/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Greek Islands
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the next Strategic Migration Dialogue between the UK and Greece will take place; whether they will publish the agenda of that meeting in advance; and whether the agenda will include (1) the “best interests” of unaccompanied migrant children, and (2) speeding up the transfer of children and adults from the Aegean Islands to the mainland.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL6309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK-Greece Action Plan sets the strategic direction for future cooperation between our two governments on irregular migration. We will be working closely with the Greek Government to progress all actions under the Plan over the coming months.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 14/07/2020 16:38:12 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1205384

registered interest
date	18/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Interviews
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all asylum applicants receive sensitive and fair hearings when interviews are resumed in remote form.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL5911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office remains committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system that is sensitive to the needs of all asylum applicants, so that sufficient information can be obtained to facilitate fair and sustainable decisions on asylum claims.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and has already put in place a range of measures to support asylum applicants affected by the covid-19 outbreak.  In line with the Home Office’s commitment to protect the health and wellbeing of its staff and applicants as a top priority, Asylum Operations made the decision to cease face to face substantive asylum interviews with effect from Thursday 19th March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>However, it is crucial to our applicants that we restart processing their applications for protection as soon as it is safe to do so.  The Home Office has successfully used video technology to support remote interviewing for more than 2 years and has appropriate operating procedures that are designed to ensure participants are able to give the best account of their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>To keep people safe but allow the Home Office to gather the additional information needed to make a decision on their claim for protection, Asylum Operations have secured additional mobile digital and video interviewing kit that enables more applicants to be interviewed remotely. We remain committed to restarting substantive asylum interviews as soon we can establish a process that allows the participants - applicants, representatives, interpreters and interviewers - to do so safely.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 30/06/2020 15:41:27 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1205385

registered interest
date	18/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Interviews
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Freedom from Torture Beyond Belief, published on 16 June, on asylum interviewing; and what measures are in place to prevent pre-judgment and a lack of compassion from harming the cases of vulnerable people, who claim to have suffered torture and severe maltreatment.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL5912
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office remains committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system that is sensitive to the needs of the claimants, so that sufficient information can be obtained to facilitate fair and sustainable decisions on asylum claims. We ensure that asylum seekers are given every opportunity to disclose information relevant to their claim before a decision is taken, even where that information may be sensitive or difficult to disclose.</p><p> </p><p>The report published by Freedom from Torture acknowledges that there have been signs of progress within the Home Office. Improvements have been made to policy instructions to emphasise the importance of caseworker conduct during asylum interviews, in line with an earlier recommendation made by Freedom from Torture. The report also acknowledges the increase in asylum grant rates at initial decision stage, which is indicative of our efforts to improve asylum decision making.</p><p> </p><p>Following the publication of the Freedom from Torture report entitled ‘Proving Torture’, a collaborative response to improving training for asylum caseworkers was initiated to develop a training package which directly addressed concerns raised in the report. This resulted in the training course ‘Assessing Evidence: Medical Legal Reports’, which has been rolled out to asylum caseworkers, senior caseworkers and technical specialists since December 2018. The training is now mandatory for any caseworker dealing with asylum claims where Medico-legal reports have been submitted.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to look at the themes raised in the report as part of our ongoing commitment to improve decision quality and the customer experience.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 30/06/2020 15:47:14 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1199227

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Families
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to expand the eligibility criteria for family reunion refugee status to include adult refugees sponsoring their (1) adult children, (2) parents,  and (3) siblings under the age of 25; and whether they will allow unaccompanied children now in the UK to sponsor their parents and siblings under the age of 25.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government already provides a safe and legal route to bring refugee families together through its family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country.</p><p> </p><p>Refugees can also sponsor adult dependent relatives living overseas to join them where, due to age, illness or disability, that person requires long-term personal care that can only be provided by relatives in the UK. There are separate provisions in the Rules to allow extended family to sponsor children to come here where there are serious and compelling circumstances.</p><p>Further, there is discretion to grant visas outside the Immigration Rules, which caters for extended family members in exceptional circumstances – including young adult sons or daughters who are dependent on family here and living in dangerous situations.</p><p> </p><p>It is the Government’s view that if children were allowed to sponsor family, this would risk creating incentives for more children to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave their family and risk hazardous journeys to the UK. This plays into the hands of criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people and goes against our safeguarding responsibilities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 16/06/2020 11:35:10 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1197867

registered interest
date	21/05/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to participate in discussions with UNHCR about the relocation of unaccompanied refugee children now in Europe, in particular those in Greece; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK maintains an ongoing dialogue with UNHRC and has a strong and constructive relationship across a range of asylum and resettlement issues.</p><p>In 2016 Parliament agreed a one-off commitment to relocate 480 unaccompanied children from Europe to the UK under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (‘the Dubs amendment’). 478 children from Greece, Italy and France have now successfully transferred to the UK under this scheme and we remain committed to completing the final two transfers as soon as it is safe to do so.</p><p>Under the Dublin III Regulation, the UK will also continue to transfer children from Greece if they have family in the UK until the end of the transition period. The UK remains fully committed to meeting our obligations under the Dublin Regulation. Despite covid-19 restrictions, the UK is ready to accept transfers under Dublin whenever Member States are in a position to make those arrangements. Following close collaboration with the Greek Government, 50 asylum seekers arrived in the UK from Greece on 11 May in order to unite with family members who were already lawfully present in the UK.</p><p>Protecting vulnerable children is a key priority for the Government. In 2019, the UK received more asylum applications from unaccompanied children than any country in the EU and accounted for approximately 20% of all reported UASC claims made in the UK and the 27 EU Member States.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 05/06/2020 10:48:10 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1193481

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Greece
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the Joint Action Plan by the UK and Greece on migration in full; what assessment they have made of the impact of that Plan on bona fide refugees, even if those refugees are undocumented; and what plans they have to speed up the transfer of refugees and migrants from the Aegean Islands to the Greek mainland.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4021
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK-Greece Action Plan signed on 22 April 2020 has been published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-greece-migration-action-plan</p><p>This takes forward co-operation with Greece on tackling irregular migration in the Eastern Mediterranean and joint action to improve overall management of migration. It covers joint work on organised immigration crime; sharing of expertise on asylum processes and migrant returns; renewed deployment of a Border Force cutter to the Aegean to carry our search and rescue and save lives; facilitation of family reunification of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children where it is in their best interests as quickly as possible; and establishment of a strategic migration dialogue.</p><p>The UK Government continues to engage with Greece regarding the conditions on the islands where appropriate and necessary. At present the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum has enacted emergency measures to contain potential coronavirus outbreaks, including the provision of additional medical facilities and staff to the islands through the EU’s Emergency Support Instrument. We also understand that those most vulnerable to COVID-19 - the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions – have been moved to safer accommodation on the islands and the mainland. These measures have so far been effective and there are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 in the camps on the Greek islands.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 22/05/2020 11:07:33 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1193486

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide temporary Leave to Remain to all asylum applicants, and others, with insecure refugee status.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4026
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a long and proud history of providing protection to those who need it and we will continue to uphold our obligations under the Refugee Convention during this time. Therefore, whilst ensuring that the Home Office is adhering to Public Health England’s advice in relation to the Covid-19 outbreak, decisions are continuing to be served on asylum claims on a case by case basis where there is sufficient evidence for us to make an accurate and well-informed decision in-line with published policy.</p><p>Even if an application is refused, measures we have implemented already guarantee that an individual can remain safely accommodated and be able to follow public health guidance, whilst maintaining access to financial support and healthcare until the end of June, and this will be kept under review.</p><p>As a result of this, there are no plans to provide temporary leave to remain to all asylum applicants or those with insecure status.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 22/05/2020 11:08:12 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1187624

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Applications
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they are making for asylum applicants whose cases are pending where a decision may be affected by restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and in particular for applications from survivors of torture.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We are monitoring the situation closely and making adjustments to our processes and procedures where necessary and appropriate.</p><p>We will continue to provide accommodation and financial support to those who would otherwise be destitute.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 07/04/2020 13:24:30 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1184993

registered interest
date	13/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the Home for Good charity to receive the vulnerable unaccompanied children that it identified as having already been processed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Europe.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office works closely with local authorities and third sector partners in order to identify suitable placements for unaccompanied children for transfer to the UK from Europe under our existing obligations.</p><p>The Government remains fully committed to relocating the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the Dubs Amendment) as soon as possible. We will publish a full data set on the transfers once we have fulfilled this commitment.</p><p>Over 220 children were transferred to the UK under section 67 when the Calais camp was cleared in late 2016. Since then we have been making further progress with Greece and the other participating states, to transfer more eligible children to move closer to achieving this commitment</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL2580 HL2581 HL2583 question first answered 27/03/2020 14:23:54 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1184994

registered interest
date	13/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments by Compassion in Politics reported in The Guardian on 29 December 2019 about delays in accepting vulnerable unaccompanied children from Europe, particularly from Greece, for care in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office works closely with local authorities and third sector partners in order to identify suitable placements for unaccompanied children for transfer to the UK from Europe under our existing obligations.</p><p>The Government remains fully committed to relocating the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the Dubs Amendment) as soon as possible. We will publish a full data set on the transfers once we have fulfilled this commitment.</p><p>Over 220 children were transferred to the UK under section 67 when the Calais camp was cleared in late 2016. Since then we have been making further progress with Greece and the other participating states, to transfer more eligible children to move closer to achieving this commitment</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL2580 HL2581 HL2582 question first answered 27/03/2020 14:23:54 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton